The cost of keeping snow off downtown sidewalks in Douglas continues to rise, along with the anger of at least one person who is concerned about the safety of residential walkways.

The city council on Monday night approved spending $11,785 for sidewalk and parking area cleaning along Center Street by Grounds Management Solutions for Jan. 15-Feb. 15.

The city has already paid $16,025 through the latest bill for plowing and salting, according to Treasurer Robert Drexler. The snow removal costs are already over budget.

The council also approved a delivery of snow removal salt for $8,100.

Douglas resident Neal Seabert told the council that sidewalks outside the downtown area are dangerous.

“Most of the time ... no one can walk on them,” he said. “You take your life in your hands.”

The city has been widening streets and pushing snow onto sidewalks throughout town.

“There’s no place to push the snow. We’re pushing snow off the streets into the sidewalks,” said City Manager Bill LeFevere.

The Holland area has received more than 148 inches of snow this season, second only to 1969-1979 when 159.9 inches were recorded in Holland.

Saugatuck City is looking into new ways to clear its sidewalks after residents complained about how icy and dangerous the walkways are.

Douglas also has to wait to repair potholes that are popping up all over the city. The temperatures have been too cold to use the department of public works hot-patch machine that heats asphalt so it better sticks in the potholes. The temperature has to be above freezing, which it hasn’t been for weeks.

“We’ll still be ahead of the game to save people’s cars. It just has to be above freezing,” LeFevere said.